China rainstorms leave at least 26 dead

BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 26 people have been confirmed dead and 10 others are missing after rainstorms in several provinces in south and central China, according to reports from local flood control authorities.

In central China's Hunan Province, the death toll from floods had risen to seven as of 10 a.m. Monday, while three others were missing.

Continous downpours have caused floods in mountainous areas and raised rivers in counties like Chenxi, Mayang and Shaodong, where a large number of houses collapsed and farms are submerged.

About 400,000 people in six cities were affected and 16,000 displaced with the collapse of 520 houses.

The rain also hit Guangdong, Guizhou and Jiangxi provinces.

Since Wednesday, storms in Guangdong have left 15 dead, five missing and affected 800,000 people, with accumulative precipitation of 628 mm in Shanwei City. Sixteen national or provincial highways were closed because of the downpours.

Guangdong provincial authorities have activated an emergency response and sent working teams and relief materials to affected areas.

Downpours also swept southwestern Guizhou Province, where three people died on Saturday night and early Sunday, as well as Jiangxi Province in east China, where a rescuer died after his boat capsized in a river while searching for a missing middle school student.